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Calculi from a case of cerebral idiopathic nonarteriosclerotic calcification (Fahr's disease) were examined. The stone consists of hydroxyapatite and possesses a typical structure: the calcification process seems to be initiated by the formation of small round bodies that are cemented to each other to form the final stone. Calcified vessels are also present, but seem to be a secondary effect. From a comparison with other calcifications, it is concluded that no pathologic significance should be attached to the relatively high levels of trace metals such as zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, lead, and others, with the possible exception of manganese. The organic matrix of the stone contains large quantities of protein. On hydrolysis of this fraction, an important unidentified ninhydrin-positive peak was found. No mucopolysaccharides were found.

ELECTROPHORETIC studies have shown qualitative and quantitative changes in the proteins of the cerebrospinal fluid in certain neurological conditions. Since the yglobulins are almost always affected, the present report deals primarily with this fraction.A specific abnormal distribution of the CSF y-globulins has been reported by BOOIJ (1 958) in cases of subacute sclerosing leucoencephalitis (SSLE). has also pointed out that in the common infectious types of encephalitis, some of the y-globulin fractions migrate at a slower rate than in the normal CSF. It therefore appeared that, besides being usually increased in quantity, the y-globulins might also show qualitative changes in diseases such as SSLE, multiple sclerosis, syphilis and African trypanosomiasis.The electrophoretic pattern on agar gel of the CSF proteins in cases of multiple sclerosis differs from the normal in that there is an increase in the y-globulin fraction, which is most striking in the region of slow migration. In SSLE, two y-globulin subfractions migrate further towards the anode than in the normal, while in African trypanosomiasis the increase of the y-globulins is more pronounced and more diffuse than in either multiple sclerosis or neurosyphilis, and without the presence of the slow fractions found in SSLE (Fig. 1).These findings suggested that differentiation between multiple sclerosis, SSLE, neurosyphilis and African trypanosomiasis might be made on the basis of the electrophoretic pattern of the CSF proteins. Two methods were used to establish these different patterns:(1) The determination of the rate of relative mobility (m,) of the various fractions.(2) The determination of the relative concentrations of each of the fractions by densitometry. METHODSThe technique of agar gel electrophoresis has been previously described (KARCHER, VAN SAKDE and LOWENTHAL, 1959). The relative mobility of the various fractions was computed by comparison with human albumin, siderophilin and depolymerized dextran (A.S.D. solution) run simultaneously. The distance between dextran and the line of maximum absorption of human albumin was taken as unity,according to W~~~' s ( 1 9 5 9 ) aiteria(LOWENTHAL,KARCHER and VAN SANDE, 1959). Siderophilin was found at a distance of 0.470 + 0.013 from dextran and 0.530 from albumin The &globulin *

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